16 The Lost Idea

However, he carefully put it back and
patted down the earth again; for he felt
certain that old Nebuchadnezzar had his
Idea somewhere, and wanted to see the
affair through.

When old Nebuchadnezzar had _ patted
down the earth in his chimney-pot, he had
gone down into his cottage and lighted the
fire under the chimney ; and in a short time
a little plant sprouted from the pot above.
Owing to the genial warmth communicated
to the mould by the fire the plant grew,
in a few weeks, to a large tree; and on it
grew all sorts of delicate fruits — peaches,
pine-apples, pomegranates, bananas, dates,
oranges, and so forth. It was a wonderful
sight ; and the position of the tree prevented
the boys picking the fruit.

‘Well, it’s a very fair idea in its way,”
thought Timothy, “but I see it isn’t my
Idea—my Idea was far, far grander than
that, I’m certain.”

Some time after that, in the autumn, he
noticed that Dame Betsy with the Cow led
her cow into her kitchen-garden—(which was